UKSCA Accredited Strength & Conditioning Trainer Award
About The UKSCA
The United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) is the leading professional body for strength and conditioning practitioners in the UK. Recognised for setting the highest standards in the field, the UKSCA promotes excellence through education, accreditation, and continuous professional development.
What is Strength & Conditioning?
S&C stands for Strength and Conditioning, which is a field focused on improving physical performance, enhancing fitness, and reducing injury risk through the application of exercise science. The UKSCA (UK Strength and Conditioning Association) is the professional body that promotes and supports S&C professionals in the United Kingdom.
Strength and Conditioning specialists are experts in:
Goal-oriented training:
S&C involves designing and implementing training programs to improve attributes like strength, power, speed, endurance, agility, and flexibility.
Applied Science:
Programs are based on the scientific principles of physiology and biomechanics and evidenced based.
Performance Enhancement:
It is more comprehensive than just lifting weights. It encompasses a broad range of evidence based performance enhancement tools which include movement training and resistance training, but also recovery, rehabilitation, coaching and youth development to name a few.
Different populations:
S&C approaches can be used in multiple areas from elite sports to enhance athletic performance through to general fitness and rehabilitation from injury.
History of the Award
This Strength & Conditioning Trainer Award was developed in response to the growing demand for qualified practitioners who can deliver safe, effective, and evidence-based training programs. The course was designed in collaboration with industry experts and academic institutions to ensure it aligns with current best practices and the evolving needs of athletes and fitness professionals.
The Programme
The program provides a comprehensive introduction to strength and conditioning principles, covering foundational topics such as anatomy, exercise technique, program design, and monitoring athlete progress. Combining theoretical knowledge with practical application, the course prepares participants to confidently support athletes across a variety of sports and performance levels.
Who is It Aimed At ?
This award is ideal for aspiring strength and conditioning coaches, personal trainers, sports therapists, physiotherapists, PE teachers and fitness professionals seeking to enhance their credentials and skills. Whether you work with amateur or elite athletes in a performance or rehabilitation setting, the UKSCA Strength & Conditioning Trainer Award equips you with the knowledge and practical tools essential for improving athletic performance safely and effectively.
What can a UKSCA Accredited S&C Trainer Do?
A UKSCA Accredited S&C Trainer (ASCT) have typically completed 6-12 months of formal S&C education, at a minimum level 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), as well as personal development and applied working practice.
When working independently, S&C Trainers are qualified and can be fully insured to independently deploy, plan and coach programmes for youth, general adult populations and recreational athletes. They can bring the benefits of strength and conditioning to a broader population.
They may also work as part of a larger S&C team as an assistant under an Accredited S&C Coach, providing training support to performance athletes in more complex S&C programmes.
Pre-Requisites
Although this is an entry-level qualification, it should not be seen as a participant's first step into physical preparation. The courses’ practical and theoretical content is delivered, maintaining the high standards expected by the UKSCA as a field of specialist scientific study.
It is ideally suited for personal trainers, coaches, or sports medicine/rehabilitation professionals who already possess some scientific background and experience in movement instruction. It is also strongly advised that participants have at least 12 months of personal experience of gym-based/performance development.
Location
The course venue for practical aspects of the course is to be confirmed.
Course Dates:
Subject to applications, the course will start in January 2025.
How Do I Book On To The Course?
You should register your interest here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuHWANaKREWgA2zL5-ZvIP0WzPD6rDpPn7t5QriE6o57QvWw/viewform?usp=header
Once interest is registered, the course tutor will conduct a short contact meeting to ensure the course meets your needs and that you are ready to undertake it.
Course Delivery Method
The course is self-paced and combines workshop-based, directed learning with self-directed learning over 6 months. As such, it expects learners to be self-motivated and autonomous.
We use hybrid learning to make it efficient for busy individuals. Theoretical and scientific aspects of the course are supported and completed through the UKSCA online learning platform. The practical instruction and assessment elements of the course are supported through in-person workshops and assessment days.
There is a significant expectation of practice outside of workshops and learning sessions.
Course Structure
The formal aspects of the course typically last 6 months, but learners have up to 12 months to complete their self-directed learning.
The course is designed to prioritise practical experience. As such, it is delivered in a hybrid fashion, allowing students to study the theoretical aspects at their own pace through the online learning platform. Face-to-face delivery is reserved for practical skills only via weekend workshops, followed by a period of practice and then a formal in-person assessment.
Course Units:
The Foundations of Movement Coaching
Coaching Safety in the Gym.
Strength-Based Training Coaching.
Performance Programming and Review.
Reflective Practice.
Applied Anatomy, Physiology and Biomechanics.
A hybrid assessment approach will be used. For practical units, the assessment will be face-to-face. Theoretical and scientific evaluations will be conducted online through the learning portal.
*In some instances, online assessments for programming and reflection may be used. However, this is only in exceptional circumstances. Coaching is a face-to-face profession, and as such, learners must be comfortable presenting in person.
What is the Outcome?
Upon completion, participants receive UKSCA accreditation, signifying their commitment to the highest professional standards and ongoing development in strength and conditioning.
The Award is validated by both OFQUAL and CIMPSA at Level 3, which provides a licence to practice and the ability to gain insurance.
The qualification also serves as a valuable stepping stone toward advanced certifications and career progression in the field.
Once accredited, participants can access the full support of the UKSCA in terms of development, further education and industry support.
Who delivers the Programme?
John Scriven is an accredited strength and conditioning (S&C) coach and movement therapy specialist. With a strong scientific and research background in S&C and physical literacy, he has over 20 years of applied experience, having worked with a range of athletes, from youth to world-class competitors.
John was responsible for the instigation and development of athlete support services in Jersey and has been instrumental in their development. Having worked across 18 sports and supported 1000s of athletes, he is currently the founder of Move Well, a movement therapy and education practice based in Jersey with significant additional international consultancy and educational roles.
